cb advise single din?

murf · 05-04-09, 08:35 PM

I am looking into getting a CB radio (nothing fancy) and was wondering if there is such a thing as a single DIN size cb that would fit into the dash below my Pioneer deck on my 80 series. That would certainly answer on where to locate the CB and would only lose the "slot" existing there now. Advise?

Thanks in advance.....

Felix · 05-05-09, 07:26 AM

Take a look at the Cobra 18 WX ST II. You'll find a few threads in the 80s forum.

ginericLC · 05-07-09, 11:36 AM

x2 on the 18WX. Forward mic mount and forward speaker and the size make it ideal.

Brentbba · 05-07-09, 12:09 PM

If you've got the semi-useless plastic cubby hole under the single din you can do a little cutting to the back of it and insert a Uniden 510/520 like I did. Covered the front side openings with pieces of plastic and it 'almost' looks built in. Pics here:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/ca-socal-80s...ghlight=uniden

Radio is secured on the sides by long bolts right into the screw holes for the supplied hanging mount. Radio is in there solid.

murf · 05-07-09, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felix

Take a look at the Cobra 18 WX ST II. You'll find a few threads in the 80s forum.

Thanks guys - with your advise and some search thread work I decided on the Cobra 18 wx st ii cb radio. Thanks! In addition I will need to buy some coax cable and an antenna - anything else you can suggest?

Brentbba · 05-07-09, 04:46 PM

Get a good antenna and make sure you get it tuned properly with an SWR meter. Good recent threads here on a couple of us that have used a Diamond mount on our hatches.

murf · 05-07-09, 04:56 PM

Thanks for all the help ~ I see your sig line also has your HAM call sign. I remember when I was much younger (EArly 70's?) that I had to learn my Morse code to apply for a license. Still remember some of it. Dad still has the monster HAM tower in his backyard. Its a whole new ballgame now with HAM.

Brentbba · 05-07-09, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murf

Thanks for all the help ~ I see your sig line also has your HAM call sign. I remember when I was much younger (EArly 70's?) that I had to learn my Morse code to apply for a license. Still remember some of it. Dad still has the monster HAM tower in his backyard. Its a whole new ballgame now with HAM.

Yep - much easier. No cw for either the entry level Technician exam or the 2nd level General either! Only need it at 5wpm for the Extra level license. Gear is more expensive than simple 11 meter CB tho. Decent radio and antenna for CB can be had for around $100. Not so with Ham. Then again, ham range is exponentially better than CB!!

If you were into it some back then, I'd think a few quick practice exams to blow off some serious cob webs and you'd pass w/o a problem.

Shoot - late 60's you had to know morse code for one of the Boy Scout rank advancements! Translate 'The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog' Sentence contains every letter in tha alphabet. God, I hated that sentence back then!

alia176 · 05-17-09, 08:28 AM

I, along with couple of other 80 owners have had good luck with Firestick's Fire Ring antenna mount. We mounted ours close to the AM/FM antenna, on the right side of the hood. Of course you can mount yours anywhere but this location produced a decent range. We mounted the bracket directly to the right side fender lip, inside the engine compartment.

murf · 05-17-09, 09:37 AM

Thanks ~ I already have my 3 foot Firestick but you bring up a good point about mounting location. I was thinking on mounting it on the right front of the ARB as some other 80 owners have. Sounds like that might be a preferred location in your opinion instead of the rear bumper?

alia176 · 05-17-09, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murf

Thanks ~ I already have my 3 foot Firestick but you bring up a good point about mounting location. I was thinking on mounting it on the right front of the ARB as some other 80 owners have. Sounds like that might be a preferred location in your opinion instead of the rear bumper?

I didn't recommend a firestick antenna, I recommended a firestick antenna mount.

This is by far the most idiot proof mount I've used and works very well. For your 3' antenna near the hood edge, this mount should work out well. 90% of poor radio transmission is due to antenna mounting IMHO.

The bumper mount is actually a poor location for an antenna mount. I know that it's been done and I've done it myself but the ground plane is very poor at that location.

shfd739 · 05-17-09, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alia176

I, along with couple of other 80 owners have had good luck with Firestick's Fire Ring antenna mount. We mounted ours close to the AM/FM antenna, on the right side of the hood. Of course you can mount yours anywhere but this location produced a decent range. We mounted the bracket directly to the right side fender lip, inside the engine compartment.

I just used the same mount. I put mine on the driver side and used an existing fender bolt. I had to dremel the mount opening just a little to fit around the bolt.

I had a 4' Firefly antenna without a spring and all the tree hits yesterday cracked it near the base. Im thinking of either going to a 3' on a spring or a Wilson 1000. The 4' was too much in the air but the whip of a 1000 wont be as bad.

I mounted my 18WX on the driver side of the console with a Nakman mic holder in place of a coin holder in the center console.

alia176 · 05-17-09, 05:08 PM

I see. I have a 4' antenna that's about 1/4" in diam and it takes a continuous trail beating. So far it's been holding up alright but it'll break eventually. The thing cost like $10 so it's worth it to me.

murf · 05-18-09, 10:40 AM

Yes, I also have the Firestick mount. The ARB should protect the antenna in the front except for the top which shouldnt see too many trees anyway. Maybe that spring mount should be next on my list....

turd · 05-23-09, 07:18 AM

icom 706 mgII with the remote ought to do the trick,,,hi hi,,,
the cobra will work well for you...

murf · 06-12-09, 10:28 PM

Well, thanks again to everyone who gave me good advise. Thats what I love about Mud ~ quick and educated advise on the what, why's, and wheres....

Per the thread I did go with the Cobra Cb single din in dash and the Firestick. I had to mount the stereo under the cb due to the backside length of the cb. No matter to me though...the front speaker feature was great.

The trail run performance was a success - I am very happy with the Cobras performance, features, and range.

Again, thanks for the advise! Heres some pics of the final results:

Brentbba · 06-13-09, 03:19 PM

Nice job on your install!

Jurgen van den Brink · 09-28-09, 08:05 AM

Question: I'm considering to do the same installation, but I can't put the CB on top of the stereo, because the stereo is a flip screen and would block the CB. Any alternatives? Thanks in advance.

alia176 · 09-28-09, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jurgen van den Brink

Question: I'm considering to do the same installation, but I can't put the CB on top of the stereo, because the stereo is a flip screen and would block the CB. Any alternatives? Thanks in advance.

My CB is below the stereo. Would your flip screen work in the top position?

Jurgen van den Brink · 09-28-09, 02:03 PM

Yes, the flip screen works fine. I'm a little concerned about the depth (backside length) of the lower DIN, as Murf was experiencing. I can off course disassemble the console, but I would rather not do so if it will not fit anyway. So what type is your radio?

Jurgen van den Brink · 09-28-09, 02:18 PM

Hi all, just found a thread with pics of the lower DIN installation for a Cobra, so it seems possible:
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...l-cb-like.html
I will take my chances...

Jurgen van den Brink · 09-28-09, 02:19 PM

Hi all, just found a thread with pics of the lower DIN installation for a Cobra, so it seems possible:
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...l-cb-like.html
I will take my chances...

alia176 · 09-28-09, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jurgen van den Brink

Yes, the flip screen works fine. I'm a little concerned about the depth (backside length) of the lower DIN, as Murf was experiencing. I can off course disassemble the console, but I would rather not do so if it will not fit anyway. So what type is your radio?

My radio is the same as Murf so that's why I suggested going with the lower slot. If memory serves, I *may* have a 90 deg elbow for the coax but not exactly sure though.

ginericLC · 10-05-09, 10:14 AM

A 90 degree elbow makes it work in the lower slot. Or you can hack into the coax and put a flexible mount on.

CreeperSleeper · 10-15-09, 12:49 PM

You can mount the Cobra in the bottom, but you have to modify the coax jack to do it. There is a write-up in the 80 forums, but I don't recall where. I was too lazy and mounted mine on top.

Jurgen van den Brink · 10-17-09, 09:03 AM

Mmh, the Cobra 18 as mentioned above is not on sale in Europe... So I will have to switch to another brand (I don't want to buy via the internet, as I don't want the hassle when it breaks down to send it back to the USA etc.) . People keep telling me I should go for the Midland 48 Excel, as it is being used by most overlanders and off-roaders here and being very reliable.
Accoring to the specs, the Midland is 1 centimeter (0,4 inch) longer than the Cobra. Now we all know that size does not matter, but in this case...

Why didn't someone think of producing a shorter CB radio!

Jurgen

Jurgen van den Brink · 10-17-09, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jurgen van den Brink

Question: I'm considering to do the same installation, but I can't put the CB on top of the stereo, because the stereo is a flip screen and would block the CB. Any alternatives? Thanks in advance.

Here is a picture of the Pioneer with the screen open. If I would put the Pioneer in the lower din, the screen would be in front of the to-be CB.

CreeperSleeper · 10-19-09, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jurgen van den Brink

Mmh, the Cobra 18 as mentioned above is not on sale in Europe... So I will have to switch to another brand (I don't want to buy via the internet, as I don't want the hassle when it breaks down to send it back to the USA etc.) . People keep telling me I should go for the Midland 48 Excel, as it is being used by most overlanders and off-roaders here and being very reliable.
Accoring to the specs, the Midland is 1 centimeter (0,4 inch) longer than the Cobra. Now we all know that size does not matter, but in this case...

Why didn't someone think of producing a shorter CB radio!

Jurgen

It is only the coax that makes it too long... Just open it up and solder on a pigtail for the coax jack. It's easy to do and should solve your clearance problems.

shotgun12321 · 11-20-09, 12:02 PM

So Murf,

I was thinking of doing this with my 62, but a co-worker brought up an interesting point when I explained it to him.

He said that if you have em both going on at the same time, there is gonna be a lot of heat right in that spot and it can adversely affect the CB's performance. Have you run into any of this issue?

TIA

murf · 11-20-09, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotgun12321

So Murf,

I was thinking of doing this with my 62, but a co-worker brought up an interesting point when I explained it to him.

He said that if you have em both going on at the same time, there is gonna be a lot of heat right in that spot and it can adversely affect the CB's performance. Have you run into any of this issue?

TIA

Tia, I live in Arizona and have used it many times with the windows down and the unit on all day (the radio too) and havent experienced any issues with it. I know the cb body doesnt ride up against the radio and there is a gap between the two as well as the backs and sides of the units. I feel there should be enough air space around the two units to keep them cool IMO.

Good luck on whatever you choose!